noun

durian

DOOR-reern

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Durian (noun) means a large tropical fruit from Southeast Asia, covered in a thick, spiky husk, prized by fans for its rich, custard-like flesh but notorious for its overpowering smell. Example: “Many hotels in Southeast Asia ban durian because the smell lingers for days.”

noun

A large tropical fruit from Southeast Asia, covered in a thick, spiky husk, prized by fans for its rich, custard-like flesh but notorious for its overpowering smell.

"Many hotels in Southeast Asia ban durian because the smell lingers for days."

"She insisted the durian tasted like sweet almond custard once you got past the odor."

A deep yellow color, similar to that of ripe durian flesh.

"The kitchen walls were painted a warm durian yellow."

How to use durian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA spiky Southeast Asian fruit famous for smelling terrible but tasting (to fans) amazing.

Common mistake

People often assume the smell means it has gone bad — durian smells strong even when perfectly fresh and ripe.

Common pairings

durian smell ripe durian durian fruit

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: durians

Test yourself on “durian” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Many hotels in Southeast Asia ban _____ because the smell lingers for days.

Etymology

From Malay durian, built from duri ("thorn") plus a suffix — a nod to the fruit's spiky shell.

Origin: Malay

Synonyms

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durion durian tree

Rhymes for durian

Asian radian Fabian Indian Syrian simian median Italian Russian Persian Serbian Latvian

See all rhymes for durian →

Frequently asked questions

What does “durian” mean?

The word “durian” means a large tropical fruit from Southeast Asia, covered in a thick, spiky husk, prized by fans for its rich, custard-like flesh but notorious for its overpowering smell. In plain terms, a spiky Southeast Asian fruit famous for smelling terrible but tasting (to fans) amazing.

How do you pronounce “durian”?

“Durian” is pronounced DOOR-reern (/ˈdʊə.ɹi.ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “durian” in a sentence?

Here is “durian” used in a sentence: “Many hotels in Southeast Asia ban durian because the smell lingers for days.”

What part of speech is “durian”?

“Durian” is a noun.

Where does the word “durian” come from?

The word “durian” comes from Malay. From Malay durian, built from duri ("thorn") plus a suffix — a nod to the fruit's spiky shell.

How many meanings does “durian” have?

“Durian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large tropical fruit from Southeast Asia, covered in a thick, spiky husk, prized by fans for its rich, custard-like flesh but notorious for its overpowering smell.

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Words with Malay & tagalog origins